October 11, 2011

Adding a Platform Bed and Window Screens to Our Toyota Sienna, Rocky

Adding a Platform Bed and Window Screens to Our Toyota Sienna, Rocky

Matt C. wrote in asking about our rig.  Well, up until yesterday, Rocky was a pretty standard Toyota Sienna, but with the help of Lisa’s folks, we built our bed platform and created window screens for the side windows.  Tonight will be the first sleepy test run.

The wood was reclaimed from the old McNamara barn in Redfield, NY.  Bob and Carolyn dismantled the barn last summer with the help of friends and family after tracking down its location.  Thanks to sleuthing and luck (the barn was nearly demo’d two summers ago, but the contractor never showed and the current owner procrastinated), what was once part of Lisa’s great-great grandfather’s dairy barn now gets to tour the continent with us!

Here’s how it all happened:

Plans ... don't let the grid paper fool you into thinking these were accurate and precise.
Plans ... don't let the grid paper fool you into thinking these were accurate and precise.
Gutted -- rear seats, captain chairs, center console all removed.
Gutted -- rear seats, captain chairs, center console all removed.
Test run of the support beams. The uneven floor made this tricky.
Test run of the support beams. The uneven floor made this tricky.
Lateral support structure.
Lateral support structure.
Installing the first few slats.
Installing the first few slats.
Slats, lower back nearly done.
Slats, lower back nearly done.
Detail of the reclaimed hardwood slats.
Detail of the reclaimed hardwood slats.
Toyota Sienna platform bed complete!
Toyota Sienna platform bed complete!
Hinged read section detail.
Hinged read section detail.
Rear section open -- lots of storage access.
Rear section open -- lots of storage access.
Starboard screen. These things were tricky.
Starboard screen. These things were tricky.
Screen detail -- velcro'd to the window frame.
Screen detail -- velcro'd to the window frame.

We love our new setup — thanks Bob and Carolyn!

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